Thomas Augustus Smith Jr.

Thomas Augustus Smith, Jr., affectionately known as "Tom" or "Tommy, age 89, departed this world peacefully surrounded by family at Mount Carmel East Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, on August 21, 2023.

Tom was born on September 6, 1933 in Columbus, Ohio to the late Thomas Augustus Smith, Sr., and Theodosia Alberta Bacot Smith.
An avid athlete, Tom participated in the extracurricular activities of basketball and track as well as took woodshop courses while attending Franklin County Public Schools. His skill and love of sports allowed him to be a part of a team that took home basketball tournament trophies on several occasions. During that time, he also worked part-time as a produce/stock clerk at the Carl L. Brown grocery store.

At the age of 22, with dreams of a different environment and better opportunities, Tom relocated to New Jersey with his friend, Billy. Together they had donned appropriate post-Renaissance era attire and motored there in style. They later moved to New York City, where Tom found employment in various positions including the medical facilities of Flower-Fifth Hospital and the Harlem Hospital. He joined company basketball teams and continued to trophy with employers and practice with friends. Football and basketball were his favorite sports.
Jazz music and Latin dance were Tom's next passions, and he enjoyed living in Harlem and frequenting places like the Savoy and Small's Paradise or just visiting and chatting in Boxer Joe Lewis' nearby bar and grill.

Tom's employment path changed when he came to work at Chemical Bank in New York's Wall Street area in 1969 as a Special Credit Investigator. There he met the woman who would become his wife for 50 years, Bobbie Benjamin Smith. The following year, Tom obtained his GED and began his year as a student at Pace College, walking or taking the subway the few blocks to the campus at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge after work. At Chemical Bank, Tom became the lead investigator for one of the department's premier customers, United Factors, which always remained a point of pride for him. Bobbie and Tom married in 1973, and in 1974 as the country's recession impacted everyone, choosing family and stability over New York City, Tom moved his family back home to Columbus. As the economy recovered, he worked at several jobs until he found his calling at St. Vincent's Children's Center as their Maintenance Coordinator. Tom retired from St. Vincent's in 1998. During his tenure there, he received high accolades and now (twenty-five years later), his former coworkers still rave about the magnificent job he did while employed there, and how things have not been the same since he retired.

In his spare time, Tom enjoyed his passion for sports, cooking, and traveling as well as spending time with family and friends. He was an avid watcher of ESPN and MSNBC watching all things related to sports daily, specifically basketball and football. He had an appreciation for the arts, both musical and visual. This stemmed from his youth and continued into adulthood. Tom used to draw, had a love for music, an excellent eye for design, and a natural gift for woodwork. That creative interest in the arts was fused when he would plan, design, and construct custom made speakers. He was a lover of music and his taste spanned various genres. He had an amazing sense of humor that naturally came through. His spirited personality would also shine whenever he got around his family, often resulting in lots of music, laughter, fun, and good times. Tom was also known to come up with original nicknames for family members and friends or keep those in circulation that his father Thomas Sr. originally distributed. He was a jokester and had a contagious laugh and sense of humor. Even during his last days, he still found a sense of humor in things when he could. For instance, when rehab physical therapist Cole would tell him to do 30 pedals, he would do 60 and say, "I'm an athlete."

Tom was a devoted husband, a caring father, a loving brother, a doting grandfather, a hip uncle, and a loyal friend. He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Benjamin Smith; two children, Duane Smith (Ruby) of Virginia and Crystal Benjamin of Maryland; four sisters, Theresa Tidwell, Delores Carter, Carmen Smith, and Eunice Golden of Ohio; a grandson, Cairo; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, whom he loved dearly.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Augustus Smith Sr., and Theodosia Bacot Smith; one son, Channing E. Smith; three brothers, Richard M. Smith, Sr., Charles E. Smith, and Kenneth L. Smith.

Public visitation will be held at 11am with funeral services to follow on Thursday, August 31 at 12pm at Newcomer - Southwest Chapel, 3393 Broadway, Grove City, Ohio. Evangelist Juanita Daniel of Holy Miracle Church of God is officiating. Burial will follow at 2pm at Green Lawn Cemetery, 1000 Greenlawn Ave, Columbus, OH.

Tom loved sports and music. Traditional attire is not required but welcome. If anyone would like to wear sports memorabilia in his honor, that would be fine. He loved the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors. His favorite basketball player was Steph Curry. Bobbie loves and supports the annual Women's Day of Prayer and will wear white. She encourages anyone who wishes to wear white (prayerfully) as well. Medical or rehab staff are encouraged to wear their scrubs if they wish, but if you so choose, wear anything you want because that is who Thomas Augustus Smith, Jr. was….someone who wanted everyone to be themselves, love themselves, have fun, and be nice.


Thomas' service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.